Wheeled Suitcase Comprising a Retractable Rod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016255933-A1
Application number	US-201415028818-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 25, 2013
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheeled suitcase comprising a suitcase body mounted on wheels and a rod comprising at least one flexible strip element connected to a handle. The flexible strip element can be wound onto itself in order to retract the handle, and can be unwound forming a tube in order to deploy the handle.

First claim

1 . A wheeled suitcase comprising
a suitcase body mounted on wheels; a rod connected to a handle, the rod being mounted on the suitcase body so as to be movable between an extended position enabling a user to maneuver the wheeled suitcase and a retracted position inside the suitcase body, wherein said rod comprises at least one flexible strip element the flexible strip element being configurable between: a wound state, corresponding to the retracted position of the rod, wherein the flexible strip element is wound around a first axis, and an unwound state, corresponding to the extended position of the rod, wherein the flexible strip element extends substantially along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the flexible strip element at least partially forming a tube around said second axis in the unwound state.

2 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a connection part extending at least partially along the second axis, and one end of the flexible strip element is wound around said connection part.

3 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 2 , wherein the connection part comprises a cylindrical portion.

4 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible strip element extends between first and second ends, the first end being wound onto a rotating support mounted so as to pivot within the suitcase body about the first axis, the second end being wrapped around the second axis and secured near the handle.

5 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 4 , wherein the rotating support can be made to rotate by an actuator.

6 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 5 , comprising a locking device suitable for selectively locking the rod in the extended position.

7 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator comprises a spring resiliently urging the rotating support in a direction that allows the flexible strip element to wind around said rotating support.

8 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor.

9 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1 , wherein said rod comprises two retractable sections.

10 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one flexible strip element comprises fibers of carbon or aramid or any other material capable of providing the mechanical and lightness characteristics.

11 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 1 , wherein said suitcase body comprises a housing which accommodates said flexible strip element in said wound state and which has a through-opening through which said flexible strip element exits the housing and the suitcase body.

12 . The wheeled suitcase according to claim 11 , wherein said housing has a size which is adjusted to the volume occupied by said flexible strip element in the wound state, and wherein the flexible strip element is connected to a stop member.

Assignees

• Vuitton Louis Sa

Inventors

• Wilson Donald John

Classifications

• A45C5/03

  Suitcases · CPC title

• A45C2013/267

  the handle being slidable, extractable and lockable in one or more positions · CPC title

• A45C13/262 Primary

  for wheeled luggage · CPC title

• A45C5/04

  Trunks; Travelling baskets · CPC title

• A45C5/14

  with built-in rolling means · CPC title